Did a test ride with the 45mm Panaracer GK X1+(measures 46.5mm mounted and inflated) and I won’t be able to run it for the race as it rubs on the seat stays when it deforms. Such is the saga of running a 2020 bike.
Ordered up a fresh set of 43mm SS+ same as I ran in 2023 so I’ll have to decide if I’m running those or the 40mm X1+
Based on riding the X1+ 40’s vs the 43 SS + I’ll probably go with the 40’s as the rolling resistance is quite a bit better, sidewall puncture is comparable and while the tread puncture isn’t as good, it does have a knob to keep it off the ground, and sealant does a pretty good job sealing tread punctures.
You could run the 45mm in the front 40mm in the rear. I just got an email from Panaracer saying the 50mm version is now available. I thought about getting a 50mm for the front. 45mm is about as wide as I can go on the rear.
very likely config. I do like the X1 tire profile better than the SS. the SS has too big a shoulder and feels weird on the transition. The X1 leans over quite a bit more predictably.
I do not have the skill set to run SS’s off road. I’ve always been happy with the SK’s. The X1’s seem to be a good improvement over the SK’s. Fast rolling and better traction.
I can run SS’s off road, but not full GK slicks. No shoulder knobs at all = my ass on the ground if there’s a turn.
I ran SK’s in my first 100 and they were true to their word and flung little bits at me all day. Switched to the SS in 2023 and the were only sketchy in a couple of places. Really wish I would have run 38;s in 2023 I could have just ridden through the mud sections. I practiced that on the muddy levees here in the SF Bay area (our ultimate no maintenance roads) and managed a 4 mile stretch without needing to scrape. The SS doesn’t have much tread so it just threw the mud right off. 38’s are narrow enough to clear my rear triangle even with the stuff that did stick.
Doing Unbound 100. First gravel race. I’ve been following a TR plan, and adding in long rides now that the weather is nicer here on the Cdn prairies. I’ve done a fair amount of 60-80 mile rides leading up to the event, here where elevation is non-existent. I was wondering if people think doing a 100 miler this weekend would be too close to the actual event. And I know that strangers can’t answer that for my specific situation, but is it something you would consider this close to the event?
Personally, if you haven’t done a 100 miler yet, I wouldn’t risk it this close to the race. You don’t want it to wipe you out where you need a week to recover. I’d suggest doing a 70-80 miler (assuming those you did in the past didn’t do a ton of recovery), target a medium duration/intensity week next week, then taper race week.
I’ve done 100 miles probably 6-7 times in the last 6 months, including 3 at a pretty intense (for me) race effort. I’ve also done 3-4 easy/solo 100’s that while hard, I was pretty much 100% recovered within 2 days.
With that in mind, as I posted earlier in the thread, I did an “easy 100 miler” a couple weeks ago and the next day I was sore, and then went insanely downhill for the next 3 days. I could barely walk the following Wednesday. By Saturday I was back to normal, did a moderately paced 100k ride and felt great the following day (yesterday) and then did (3) 9 minute intervals and then crushed my 5 minute power PR this morning.
If it was this past weekend or earlier I’d probably be all for it, but right now, I’d target for something you’re more comfortable with.
I’m doing the 100 too. I’ve never ridden 100 miles on gravel and will not until race day. I’m doing a four and a half hour ride this Friday. Five hours and 76 miles was my longest gravel ride two weeks ago. After this Friday I will do one 2 hour group ride on Wednesday, a two hour gravel ride on Saturday the week before the race and then nothing but one hour rides or less to shut it down.
For me, 2 weeks out is ideal as a last long-ish tune up ride/race. But I’ll normally make it a smaller effort than the event I’m doing to err on the conservative side. I wouldn’t worry about getting a full 100 in, but another ~80 miler could be good if you don’t completely bury yourself. Make it a dress rehearsal as much as possible with fueling, gear, etc. If you can find some hills and/or gravel (or even tame singletrack), I’d try to work that in. Again, it’s all individual, but it really helps me to get my body used to a long day on chunky roads if most of my training has been on tarmac.
I’ll be racing Rule of 3 this weekend and arriving Thursday to pre-ride most of the course (still a big week, but a significant drop from the last block). It will likely end up being about 2/3 the time/effort of Unbound 200, but really chunky in places and 20+ miles of singletrack. I did it last year and pretty much hated the singletrack stuff, but it sure made the chunk at Unbound less intimidating 2 weeks later. It’s a race I’d certainly prefer to do on my MTB if Unbound wasn’t 2 weeks later.
Basically, I’m a fan to backing down the volume in the last month, but work harder on race specificity. So, more time with bike handling and prep races and less time with structured training.
I bet I saw some folks out training over the last few days on the Highline Canal/Waterton Canyon in Denver. Lots of gravels bikes and people kitted up with the prerequisite gear.
How worried should I be about running 40mm Maxxis Ramblers? I had it on my mind to get a bike with better clearance this year, but got laid off so didn’t feel like spending a few thousand on an upgrade. I’ve had bad luck with flats on WTB ventures lately, so trying the maxxis.. Seems most people recommend 50mm tires at a minimum. My Canyon grail is maxed out at 40 - 43mm, so is there any other way to make the tires more resilient?
I did a 90 mile, mostly solo, race effort ride on May 3rd (4 weeks to go until event) as a simulation-ish prep. Didn’t have the chunky gravel, just smooth Boulder roads, but I made it like race day. One stop around 50 miles and then back at it.
This was one of my last big rides before a rest week and, hoo-boy, did I need it. From here until race day I’ll be working on sweet spot workouts and maybe a 50 miler. It all depends on how you think your body will react, but I won’t be doing anything that big between now and race day, that’s for sure.
Same issue with clearance outback for me. running a 40mm that measures 42 inflated. X1+. but a 45 up front because the fork has better clearance. Unless you’re shooting for a podium, 40mm will be fine, but also a bit more fatigue at the end.
What are you thinking for the savory snacks? I find those much harder to choose and have, but definitely needed after eating and drinking sugary water all day… Maybe a bar with sea salt or something?
Savory will be at the check points. I’m thinking roasted mini potatoes with seasoned salt (Jane’s Crazy Mixed-up Salt) Or if I’m feeling industrious, Mushroom & Swiss (Ementhaler) fritatas made in a mini muffin pan. So sauteed mushrooms, onion powder, potent Swiss cheese, rice & egg is the binder. Not calorie dense, but for me, the purpose of the savory is to alleviate pallet fatigue.
The rest of the carbs look kind of like this
1x 750ml bottle with 125-150g of carbs
1x 950ml bottle with LMNT mango chili (on the bike pallet buster)
2.5l Hydration pack with Skratch (normal) which is about 100g of carbs over about 3 hours.
I will keep packets to refill the above at Oasis, and resupply those refills at each checkpoint.
I’m still working on the rest of the carbs, but shooting for 90-100g up to CP1 and then dropping to 70g per hour after that.
Some of the unique things I use are 170ml gel flasks with 5 regular gu and one liquid gu mixed. helps with consistency and I don’t feel like I need to wash it down immediately. That’s about 140g per flask. Start with one on the bike, swap at check points.
Then it’s a matter of filling in the rest with skratch chews, cherry gummies, cola gummies, and a solid of some sort, Betty Lou’s Pie Bites, Skratch bars, Stryker rice bars. stroop wafels.
Objective being I’m chewing on something or have something in my mouth at least once an hour. That’s to keep that mouth-brain-stomach connection going. Chewing signals the brain, brain signals the stomach that something is coming. Gummies/chews in your cheek can do that too. That’s what I’ve found to help from getting a sour stomach that stops me from eating. That and staying on top of hydration, since getting on the wrong side of that will also kill your appitite.
I ran 40s last year with no issue. The Rambler was the go-to at Unbound a “generation” agoa and Swenson won on them. That said, I’d advocate for the Tufo Thunderos HD in 40, which is what I used last year after spending way too much time thinking about it. Pathfinders would also be a reasonable option (I don’t particularly like them, but I’m in the minority).
I wouldn’t sweat it, there will be a small percentage of folks running 50+ and 38-42 is still pretty common. Just more of a beat down with the higher pressures you have to run. I’d personally run pathfinder pro 42’s if limited to 43 by your frame. Not the fastest, but fast enough and shown to be durable. Specialized launched new gravel tires recently, so I’m not even sure you can buy the old ones any longer. Those ramblers are known to be durable as well, but slower rolling.
I Iooked for the Rambler with Silkshield on BRR and they weren’t there.
For resilance, loo for lower TPI and the Endurance/Plus/“enhanced sidewall” versions in a 40. I know that Maxxis (Silkshield), Panaracer (Plus), and Rene Herse (Endurance?) are all available in a verity of tread patterns and in a 40-43mm. I’ve been happy with both Panaracer Plus and Maxxis Silkshield in a 40. Just haven’t tested either over a full 200. Did 175 on Panaracer SS+ a few years ago, but that was about a 50/50 mix of pavement and pretty decent gravel, not the razor blades of Kansas.
we don’t have to contend with that this year.
